Special Memorial Day Poems Are a Tribute to Veterans

In truth, most veterans are not respected by our mainstream society. These poems are an honest look at the plight of the those who serve their country.

(CANTON, N.C.) - This collection of poems was submitted to Salem-News.com through a contact in our work on the TCE (Trichloroethylene) related cancer cases and other illnesses stemmimg from water contact at the Marine Corps Base in North Carolina, Camp Lejeune. (see: Marine Death Camp: Camp Lejeune Trichlorethylene - the Culprit)

Carol J. Davis has her own story like so many others, and her therapy has in part been the creation of these poems that she wanted to see published for people to enjoy reading.

She says two were inspired when by the story of a WWII veteran in S.C. who applied to go to the VA Veterans home. "He was turned down," Carol said.

"Upon being turned down, he put his rejection letter in his pocket, stood on the steps of the VA and committed suicide. That was last week. Since then, the silence on his death has been deafening. The third poem was inspired by my husband's and my friends' contamination at Camp Lejeune."

If anyone would like to purchase signed copies of these poems there is information below on how to place an order.

Why is it hard for you to thank your Vets?
For this great nation, no one has risked more.
Thanks for their service is not given yet!

So how shall you know them, once they are met?
Honor so wounded can only be sore.
Why is it hard for you to thank your Vets?

The families of Vets struggle, I’ll bet,
With stories of help behind other doors.
Thanks for their service is not given yet!

Apathy rampant may have caused regret
In those hearts so true and bodies so poor.
Why is it hard for you to thank your Vets?

This nation should, by an example set,
Prove that gratitude is not just a chore!
Thanks for their service is not given yet!

Frustration! Because, of what you don’t get.
This veteran’s family lives next door.
Why is it hard for you to thank your Vets?
Thanks for their service is not given yet!

They chose to serve at Camp Lejeune;
A dream! Defended for us all,
And their dying will come too soon.

From the dream? Should none be immune,
Except the ones who heard the call.
They chose to serve at Camp Lejeune.

Their unjust reward? But a tomb!
Contamination is the pall,
And their dying will come too soon.

Their lives? Contain few happy tunes,
Because, if you will please recall,
They chose to serve at Camp Lejeune.

Medical bills? Stacked to the moon!
Contributions? Considered small!
And their dying will come too soon.

Congress? Held hearings this past June.
True help? Upon the Hill is stalled.
They chose to serve at Camp Lejeune
And their dying will come too soon.

For love of a dream, they answered the call,
When threats did, to our nation, appear.
Is their plight now considered? Not by all!

Because they believed “Liberty for All”,
They offered their lives, despite their fear.
For love of a dream, they answered the call.

Upon coming home, they took a hard fall.
The dream defended, is not so near.
Is their plight now considered? Not by all!

Something else matters on a street named Wall.
Except for Vets, a dream not so dear.
For love of a dream, they answered the call.

After their service, this system does maul
Those who served it, despite their fear.
Is their plight now considered? Not by all!

Veterans’ Administration has gall!
Serving Veterans? Few truly hear!
For love of a dream, they answered the call.
Is their plight now considered? Not by all!

For more information on the Camp Lejeune TCE contamination problems, Carol suggests visiting watersurvivors.com.

There is also a developing awareness of illnesses from TCE contamination stemming from the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Southern California. For more information on that visit this story: El Toro Marines Should be Aware of Possible Contaminant Based Health Hazards, and this site which has a lot of information about the TCE situation there: mwsg37.com/. Carol

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Carol October 12, 2008 6:27 pm (Pacific time)

Senator Elizabeth Dole sponsored an amendment to H.R. 4986 requiring the Secretary of the Navy to notify Camp Lejeune's victims. The address has a habit of changing. This is the current address: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c110:2:./temp/~c110BAkXu2:e187673:

Carol October 4, 2008 9:00 pm (Pacific time)

To view the membership of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, please visit http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Members.Home If your senator is among these, please call and ask him/her how he/she voted on this important issue. Please click on the contact link on the Committee's web-site and thank Senator Boxer for putting The TCE Reduction Act of 2007 on the legislative agenda. Ask her to thank the members of her committee for approving The TCE Reduction Act of 2007.

Carol October 4, 2008 8:53 pm (Pacific time)

Please check out Senator Elizabeth Dole's press release. Notice that she says that as many as one million people may have been contaminated at Camp Lejeune from 1957 to 1987. Please notice that she and Senator Clinton are sponsoring legislation (The TCE Reduction act of 2007) to reduce TCE in drinking water. Everyone who has been impacted by TCE contamination should support legislators who have been active in helping victims and trying to prevent the contamination of more people. Others who were instrumental in this legislation include almost the Entire Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. There was only one dissenting vote in that Committee. ******** http://dole.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.DetailandPressRelease_id=98849a81-50e2-4f45-ac0c-ad04901760e2andMonth=7andYear=2008

Vic May 27, 2008 10:24 am (Pacific time)

Carol , thank you for your response...I did not say that soldiers or anyone else are sinners....I merely quoted that verse which to me is the same as Karma, cause and effect, or divine law..whatever one wants to call it. I too, am a "sinner" ..falling way short of the requirements to really call myself a Christian....so I dont, but try as best I can to live the life.

CANDY LITTLE May 27, 2008 6:39 am (Pacific time)

IF YOU GO TO "THE STAND" WATERSURVIVORS.COM YOU WILL ALSO FIND FACTUAL INFORMATION. WE HAVE 1600+ INDIVIDUALS CONTAMINATED BY THE WATER AT CAMP LEJEUNE AND THEY ALL LOOK FOR GUIDANCE FROM THE WATER SURVIVORS. WE TRY TO REPRESENT HOPE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED. WE NEED EVERYONES HELP IF WE ARE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

Carol May 27, 2008 5:16 am (Pacific time)

If you would like to see help for veterans who have been contaminated, please contact your senators and representative. You can find their contact information at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov. If you don't know your Congress Persons' names, there's a search bar where you can enter your zip code. I've learned over the last 6 months that the folks in DC can't become involved in an issue simply because they think its a good cause. They must have a paper trail of documentation showing that their constituents asked them to become involved. If you think proper care of contaminated veterans (health care, compensation, doctors who believe that the contamination happened, doctors who know how to treat people contaminated with some combination of at least 70 contaminants) is a good idea, please ask your congress people to get involved.

Carol May 27, 2008 5:04 am (Pacific time)

Sinners come in all forms. Some sinners lack compassion for other sinners. The Bible also says not to be a lender or borrower of money. Jesus did not handle the money lenders delicately. Vic, are you saying that some sinners are more entitled to help than others? I, for one, know I'm a sinner. The Constitution of the United States does not exclude sinners from the American Dream. People do that.

Vic May 26, 2008 3:06 pm (Pacific time)

Kittleson...I quoted the BIBLE.....I believe Jesus Christ was the one quoted..if you have a problem with that, I am not the one who wrote it. Your enemies are: Jesus Christ, Christians, or anyone who takes the teachings of Christ seriously.

Carol May 26, 2008 10:57 am (Pacific time)

Stan and Candy, You are both so devoted to our cause. You are my best friends. I pray that together, and with the help of a lot of very fine people across this nation, we can make a difference in the lives of all veterans. At the very least they'll know that we appreciate their service and their sacrifice.

Carol May 26, 2008 10:50 am (Pacific time)

Kittleson, I thank you for your passion on behalf of veterans. Please, let your senators and representative in DC know how you feel about veterans and their plight. Contamination has not only produced negative health outcomes in those who were contaminated, it has impacted children and grandchildren with birth defects and learning disabilities. Some patriotic families are no longer able or possibly willing to provide sons and daughters to defend this nation. The health issues associated with Camp Lejeune's contamination are heartbreaking and often present themselves in multiples. Some of Camp Lejeune's victims have lists of diagnosis. Every trip to the doctor (and their are many) is likely to result in a new diagnosis. Again, thank you for your passion on behalf of veterans.

Kittleson May 26, 2008 8:54 am (Pacific time)

Vic you seem to have an almost childish viewpoint on what Memorial Day means not only to veterans but to most Americans. Why do you even live in this country? Go up to some of our veterans and accuse them of being murderers! People like you have always been around, which is the true American Tragedy. I'll pay for a one way ticket for you to leave the country to never come back. How about Havana: Caracus? Dafur? Saigon? ...?

Tata May 25, 2008 8:09 am (Pacific time)

You can also visit www.tftptf.com for factual information regarding the water contamination at Camp Lejeune.

CANDY & STAN LITTLE May 25, 2008 7:47 am (Pacific time)

CAROL IS A CLOSE PERSONAL FRIEND (BEST FRIEND) OF OURS. HER POEMS ARE BEAUTIFUL AND TO THE POINT. I AM A CONTAMINATED VICTIM OF CAMP LEJEUNE, AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE WHAT CAROL HAS TO SAY, AS DOES MY HUSBAND, WHO IS MY CARETAKER. THIS MEMORIAL DAY LET US ALL PAUSE FOR A MOMENT TO REMEMBER ALL THOSE WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.

Vic May 24, 2008 8:50 am (Pacific time)

Heres a quick poem.... "Live by the sword Die by the sword" I didnt make this up... It came from the Lord.

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